Akt (Protein Kinase B)
Full Form of AKT
What is AKT?
AKT, also known as Protein Kinase B (PKB), is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a central role in regulating cell survival, growth, proliferation, metabolism, and angiogenesis. In the Indian medical education system, AKT is a key topic in biochemistry and pathology, especially in the context of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This pathway is frequently discussed in MBBS, NEET PG, and AIIMS PG examinations due to its implications in cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. AKT acts downstream of growth factor receptors and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and its hyperactivation is a hallmark of many cancers. Understanding AKT function is critical for targeted therapy development, and questions on its inhibitors (e.g., everolimus) appear regularly in Indian postgraduate medical entrance tests. The acronym itself originates from the AKR mouse thymoma cell line where the kinase was first discovered, but its functional importance makes it a staple in molecular medicine curricula across India.
AKT का फुल फॉर्म
एकेटी (प्रोटीन काइनेज बी)
Example
In the NEET PG biochemistry question, students were asked to identify the kinase that phosphorylates BAD to promote cell survival, which is AKT.